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Metriaclima zebra is a species with a lot of geographic variants which can be found all around the lake in rocky environments but also in intermediate zones from rocks to sand. Belonging to this zebra-group are the so-called BB-zebra (striped, blue-black, you can find them on places without sediment on the rocks), the stripeless zebra (you can find this type many times on places where a small layer of sediment is on the rocks and between the locations of two BB-variants), the "blue-blaze" zebra (this one is missing two stripes on its head) and the "red-top" zebra (with the same striped pattern as the BB-zebra but with a red dorsal fin. This type is found on different locations around the lake). These different forms are never found together. This "red-top" variant is described as a separate species (as Metriaclima pyrsonotos) which can be found a.o. near Chimwalani Reef, Mkondiwa Reef, Nakantenga Island and Nkhudzi in the southern part of the lake. Sometimes there are also found some very rare O-variants like the first 2 examples shown above (picture 3 and 4 are F1-offspring) which were caught near a reef that the locals call Mkondiwa Reef; an elongated reef which is completely lying under water and stretches itself hundreds of meters in southern direction from Nakantenga Island however it´s probably connected with this island. In trade this variant is offered with different names like Metriaclima pyrsonotos "Kambiri Reef", Metriaclima pyrsonotos "Kambiri New Reef" and Metriaclima pyrsonotos "New Reef"; however, these are not the right names because they do not indicate the correct location where they were caught. In the lake the males of these species can grow to 13 cm, in the aquarium however they can grow taller because of a good feeding. The males can then grow to about 16 cm, females grow to about 13 cm. Metriaclima pyrsonotos can behave intolerant against equal species, against other inhabitants they are in general tolerant. You can best keep this species with multiple females and other mbuna in an aquarium with a lot of hiding places. In the lake they are mainly feeding themselves with algae, invertebrates and plankton. In the aquarium they are comfortable with any food. They take everything they get offered, like spirulina pellets, mysis, artemia, cyclops and shrimp-peas mix. Food rich of algae like spirulina pellets or flakes is very important to them so this should not be missing on their menu. 
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